Threshing-machine.



M. DAVIS. THRESHING MACHINE.

x APPLICATION FILED JULY.19. 1911- Patented Dec. 25,1917

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. DAVIS.

THRESHJNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9. 1911.

Pmma Dec. 25,1917

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fiwroeja w: isf gum/wk;

M. DAViS.

THRESHING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19.1911.

Patented Dec: 2 5, 1917* 4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

I M. DAVIS. THRESHl NG MACHINE. APPLI CATIQN FILED JULY 19'. I911.

Patented Dec. 25,1917.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

MONROE LEAVES; OF ENID, OKLAHOMA.

THRESHING-MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat-a ied Dec. 25, 1917.,

Application filed July 19, 1917. Serial N0. 181,607.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, MONROE DAVIS, 2 citizen of the United States, residing at Enid, in thccounty of Garfield and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tln-eshing-lvlachines; and

I do declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in threshing machines, and more particularly to means for effectively separating the grain from the chafl', the present invention being similar in a number of respects to my U. S. Patent 1174398 of March 7, 1916, but possessing a number of improved features of construction.

As will be evident from the foregoing, the principal object of the invention is to pro vide means for effectively separating the grain from all chafi' and dust whereby it may. be sacked as discharged from the machine, without the necessity of any other cleaning.

A further object is to provide a novel type of sacking device so constructed as to cause the travel of a current'of 'air' therethrough in the reverse direction from that in which the material being sacked is traveling, thusinsuring that all dust and the like shall be removed from the grain before it is discharged.

With the foregoing general objects in View, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and unique combination of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which form a part of'this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine;

Fig. 2 is substantially a central vertically longitudinal section;

Figs. 3, 4c and 5 are vertical transverse sections on the planes of the lines 33, H and 55 of Fig. 2 respectively;

Fig. 6 i an enlarged vertical section of the discharge end of the sacking device;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sec'tion n the plane of the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a dctailhorizontal section on the plane of the line 9-0 of Fig. 8.

In the drawings above briefly described,

the numeral l designates a horizontally disposed threshing cylinder suitably mounted upon a frame 2 having front and rear earth engagin wheels 3 and 4; respectively, the front wheels being provided with the usual or any preferred type of tongue 5. or any other suitable means by which the machine may be drawn from place to place. A lin shaft 6 extends coaxially through the threshing cylinder 1 and projects beyond the rear d thereof through a straw discharge housing 7 and a chaff disrharge housing 8 both of which will be hereinafter described. it being upon the shaft (3 that a plurality of suitably constructed and arranged heaters 9 are disposed for whirling the incoming grain around and separtaing the straw from the grain proper by centrifugal force.

The inlet for the unthreshed grain is in the form of a pair of pipes 10 and 11 respectively. the pipe 10 being carried by the inlet end of the threshing chamber 1. whereas the pipe 11 extends into the outer end of said pipe 10 and at its upper side is hinged thereto at 12. It will be observed that the lower side of the pipe 10 extends beyond the hing line and that although a snug engagement will exist between the two pipes 10 and 11 when they are in alinen'ient, a gap 13 will exist when the pipe 11 is swung upwardly.

as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. This gap is highly essential. since when the grain is being drawn into the threshing chamber 1 by the action of the fan 15 in the fan housing 7, the air currents have a tendency to short circuit and thus to create a greater amount of suction through the upper portions of the pipes. On account of the gap 14, however, an air blast will be directed across the lower sides of the bundles of rain as they enter the pipe 10 from the pipe 11, this blast serving to direct the bundles upwardly into the threshing chamber 1, without permitting them in anymanner lodge in the inlet pipes.

The grain, upon entering the chamber 1, is so acted upon by the feeder arms 9 that the grain is separated from the straw, the

latter being discharged into the fan housing 7, whereas the threshed grain will tall from the chamber 1 through a longitudinal grain "erit Tater. 'tiTiiTSTtlu i-nt ire housing is preterably mounted so that) it may rotate. This may be accomplulnd in numerous ways, but

1 prefer to provide one end ol the housing 7 with an outstanding annular flange or collar 18 which surrounds a similar outstanding.

collar l!) on the delivery end of the threshing chamber 1, the other end of the housii'ig,

7 being suitably supported upon a hearing such as that. indicated at it), this hearing bein; carried by a transverse bar 21 of the frai'ne. For raising; and lowering the spout or pipe 17 :1 cable is preferably provided, said cable passing over a pulley 23 on the upper end of a post. or the, like 2% which rises from the machine, the free. end of the cable being wound upon a suitable Windlass which is equipped with a dog 26 for holding it. against retrograde rotation until required.

After leaving the threshcd grain outlet t6, the grain is received in a horizontally elongated casing 27 which extends beneath the greater pa; i. of the threshing chamber 1, said easing being provided with a trouglulike screen 28 for catching any ehalt which may be discharged with the threshcd grain. ihe grain however, will drop to the bottom of the casing 27 and is adapted to be carried from this easing into a threshed grain discharge. housing 21 by means of a screw conveycr or the like 30 which is positioned adjacent.- the bottom of the casing in question. From the housing 29, the grain is carried upwardly within a grain discharge passage 31, by an endles belt; conveyor 32 and is discharged into an inclined portion 33 of said passage, said portion delivering into a sacking pipe. 34 which possesses novel features of construction yet to be described.

It. is to be understood that any preferred means could be employed for drivi ng the convcyers 30 and 32, belts 3!) and 36 being preferably employed, however, for driving said conveyors from the line shaft 6.

Another screw conveyor 37 is driven by a belt or the like 38 from the shaft 6 and is positioned aboveihe screen 28 for the purpose of feeding the chatifrom the latter into the housing 29. This chaff is prevented from settling in the housing 29, however, by the pneumatic means now to be described.

A chaff discharge casing 39 communicates with the housing 29 at one end and at its other end discharges at 40 into the eye of the fan housing 8, a suitable fan 41 being lo cated in said housing and mounted on the shaft 6, so that when the shaft is rotated,

the fanl will create suction in the'easing latter is discharged into said pipe.

mama? 39 to draw the chat? therefrom and discharge. it into the. housing 8 from which it is delivered throu fh a suitable outlet 42. His highly possible that some of the threshed grain may be. carried from the housing 29 with the current of air llowing into the fan housing 8, and in order to check this grain and prevent. the discharge thereoi through the outlet 42, a. vertical battle plate 43 is preferably employed within the casing 39,'

said plate serving to check the outward movement of the grain and to return it to the. bottom of said casing. This bottom is in the sumo plane as the bottom of the casing 27, and a screw conveyer it, mounted on the same shaft as the court-yer 30, is positioned adjmrentsaid bottom to return any grain dropping thereon to the housing 21). By the provision ol the easing ill the. fan housing 8, and the fan ll, it will be obvious that a great. amount oi ehatl which would otherwise be discharged with the l-hreshed grain. will be blown out of the separate discharge 4-2 provided for that purpose. It is nevertheless necessary to provide an auxiliary means for still further drawing small particles of chat? and dust l'rom the threshed grain bet'ore. it is linally discharged, this end being attained by the following construction.

A suction passage 45 leads' from the upper end of the saekingnpipe H to the eye of the tan housing Hi so that. the latter will create suction through said passage and through the pipe Ill. thus removingany dust and line particles of rhatl' and the. like which may still remain with the threshed grain as the During this separating action. some. ol the grain ma possibly be carried irom the pipe 3% through the passage 45, and in order that this ,L'rain' shall not be discharged into the housing- 2s and thrown thereby from the l'an -H with the ehati', I provide a vertically disposed dead air chamber it; which communicates at its upper end with the passage 45. whereas the. lower end of said dead air chamber is provided with a door or the like 47 for placing it in communieation with the housing 29, when a sullicient quantity of grain accumulates in said chamber to automatically open. the door against the tension of the spring 48 which isprovided for normally retaining it in closed position. Any preferred means could be employed for directing the grain from the passage 47 into the dead air chamber 46, but I preferabl employ a pair of pivoted valves 49 which are shown more. particularly in Fig. 1, this arrangement being highly efiicient and durable. yet simple and inexpensive.

By the construction just described, it: will be obvious that no grain will be discharged from the machine with the chaffandrthat all of the grain which is collected in the dead air chamber-46 will be automatically asers? discharged at intervals into the housing 29 and will be carried from the latter to the sacking pipe 34 by the means provided.

At its outlet'end, the sacking pipe 34 is provided with a sleeve 50, the inner end of said sleeve being held in spaced relation with the end of the pipe 3-1, by suitable arms or the like 51. By this construction, an annular air inlet 52 is provided into which a current of air will be drawn into the pipe 34 by the suction therein, said current being caused to travel reversely from the direction in which the cleaned grain is passing, whereby any dust and fine particles of chaff will. be removed therefrom. For con trolling the strength of the current of air entering the inlet 52, a' valve ring 53 is mounted slidably upon the pipe 34 and may be moved toward or away from said inlet and held in adjusted position by a set screw or the like 54.

The outer end of the sleeve 50 is adapted to be received in the sack S, (Fig. 8) said end being provided with a channel 55 having outwardly projecting prongs 56 therein, upon which the sack is supported, a suitable sack tightener 57 being provided, said tightener having an operating handle 58 as shown most clearly in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. Although this form of tightener is preferably employed, it 'will be obvious that other types could well be-used, it being only necessary that the sack S be secured to the sleeve in such a manner as to prevent collapsin of the former.

In operation, the bundles of grain, or the loosegrain, as the case may be, are fed into the out-er end of the pipe 11 and by the suction within the threshing chamber 1, this unthreshed grain is drawn into said chamber. In the chamber 1, the rapidly rotating arms 9 throw the grain outwardly by centrifugal force and rapidly whirl said grain so that all of the kernels are separated from the straw, the latter being drawn from the threshing chamber into the fan box 7 and being discharged from the latter through its outlet pipe 17, whereas the threshcd grain dro s through the outlets 16 into the casing 2 The grain will fall through the screen 28, but the chafi' and the like which may be discharged therewith, will be collected by said screen, the two conveyers 30 and 37 now serving to move the grain and the chaff respectively into the housing 29. The grain falls to the bottom of this housing and is carried off by the conveyer 82 and discharged into the sacking pipe 34, whereas the chaff and dust are prevented from settling in the housing 29 by the current of air drawn therethrough by the fan 41, this dust and chaff bein discharged through the outlet spout 42. uring this operation, any grain which may possibly be drawn toward. outfit-'40 with the chaff machine is to be put.

and the like, will strike the baffle 43 and will thus be checked in its movement, so that it will drop by gravity onto the bottom of the casing 39, the conveyer lanow serving to return this grain to the housing 29 so that it may be discharged with the other.

The fan il serves not only to create suction through the casing 39, the housing 29, and the casing 37, but also creates such suction through the passage 45 so that a current of air is drawn in the annular inlet 52 and moves through said passage in the reverse direction from that in which the threshed grain is traveling, thus finally cleaning the latter. All of the dust and chaff drawn through the passage 45, will be discharged into the fan box 8 and from the latter will be forced through the outlet 42. Any grain, however, which may possibly be drawn from the sacking tube 34, through the passage 45, will be directed into the (lead air chamber 46, by the valves 49 and will collect in the bottom of said chamber charge this grain into the housing 29.

In some instances, it may be necessary to provide one or more auxiliary air inlets such as sliding doors 59, for the purpose of varying thestrength of the draft of air drawn through the casing 39, but in other cases it may not be necessary o employ such inlets, according to the use to which the For instance if riceis to be threshed, after soaking thereof, it will be necessary to provide air currents of extreme strength, in order that the damp chaff and the like may be carried off. On the other hand, when wheat, cats or other grain is to be threshed which is not soaked before the threshing operation, the currents of air need not be of such strength.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that although the improved machine is of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction, it will be highly eflicient and durable. Particular emphasis is laid upon the improved separating means including the casing 27, thehousing 29, casing 39, the fan 41, the suction passage 45, and the sacking pipe 34 with its adjustable air inlet 42. I also attach great importance to the inlet pipes 10 and 11 which are so connected as to form a crescent shaped air inlet 14 when said pipes are moved into angular relation, and upon the casing 7 which is so mounted as to permit its discharge 17 to move vertically for stacking at different elevations. In addition to these several features, however, the general arrangement of parts shown and described is considered highly important.

On account of the several advantages flowing from the specific detailsof construction shown and described, such details constitute the preferred form of the improved threshing machine. I Wish it understood, however, that Within the scope of the intention as claimed, numerous minor changes may weli he made.

i claim;

1. in a grain separator, the combination of a casing: having a grain inlet, a screen across said casing to separate any chat'i' from the grain which may enter therewith, a housing harin; a cleaned grain oatlet, means for moving the separated chait and the grain l'roin said screen and easing; respectively into said housing, pneumatic means for removing the chatt' from said housing hetore it settles therein, and means for returning any grain to said housing which may he carried therefrom with the eliaii v In a grain separator. the con'ibination ot' a casing having a grain inlet, a screen across said casing to separate any chat? from the grain which may enter therewith, a housing; having a cleaned grain outlet, means for moving the separated chat? and the grain from said screen and easing respectively into said housing, a chatt' dis charge easing communicating with said housing", and means for creating a draft of air through said chati discharge casing to remove the chati' from the housing before it setties therein, said ehati' discharge casing having means for returi'iing any grain to said housing which may he carried therefrom with the ehati.

3. in a grain separator, the combination ot' a casing having an inlet, a screen extendiitg across said casing to collect. any chafi' which may enter with the grain, a housing with which one end of" said casing communicates, said housing having a cleaned grain outlet, at ehatt discharge casing communicating with said housing; and having pneunatic means tw n-eventing settiing of chaif therein, the bottom of said chait' discharge casing being in the plane with the bottom. of the first named easing, said chafi discharge casing having means for depositing any grain on its bottom which may be carried from said housing with the chaff, a conveyer for moving the chatf from said screen into said housing, a second conveyer for moving the grain from the bottom of the first named easing into said housing, and a third conveyor on the same shaft with raid second eenveyer for returning the collected grain from the bottom of said chati discharge casing to said housing.

i. In a grain separatmr, the combination of a housing into which the grain is d posited, said housing having a discharge passage for the grain, means for creating section in said housing to draw otif ail chaff which may enter with the grain, and a saction passage leading from said grain discharge passage to said suction creating means.

5. in a grain separator, the combination of a housing; into which the grain is tie/posit ed, said housing having; a discharge passage for the grain, means for creating; section in said housing to draw oti' chati' which may i enter with the grain, and a suction passage leading from said grain discharge passage to said suction creating means, a dead air ehainher communicating at'its npperend with said suction passage, means for directing any grain in this passage into said ehainher, and means for discharging the collected grain from said chamber into said honsinp'.

In testimony whereof i have hereunto set my hand.

MONROE DAVIS, 

